Rehousing aid in Ivory Coast after mass evictions in Abidjan

"In order to support populations affected by 'evictions' (name given to expulsions) and to prevent them from resettling in new risky sites", the government has adopted a "rehousing system", declared Amadou Coulibaly .

“State support” will be “250.000 CFA francs (381 euros) per household,” he said after a council of ministers.

The overall amount of this measure, which concerns the inhabitants of the "districts of Boribana, in Attécoubé and Gesco, in Yopougon", the two most affected areas, is estimated at "697 million CFA francs" (approximately 1 million euros), he said.

“No neighborhood will be left behind,” assured Mr. Coulibaly, other areas of this metropolis of 6 million inhabitants having also been destroyed.

He also announced "the allocation of construction aid of a lump sum amount of one million CFA francs (1.524 euros) per family", i.e. a total sum of 3 billion CFA francs (approximately 4,5 millions of euros).

In addition, the government proposes "the provision of land of 75m2 or 100 m2, depending on the size of the family, with the signing of a lease" for a "duration of 20 to 25 years, for a rent of 10.000 CFA francs per month, at the end of which the affected nationals will become owners,” he said.

No date of application of these measures has been communicated.

"The autonomous district of Abidjan", divided into 13 municipalities, "counts around thirty precarious housing neighborhoods located in risk areas and permanently exposed to floods and landslides, which, since 2005, have caused the death of more than 340 people, assured the spokesperson.

“Any new precarious neighborhood that is created will be 'cleared out',” he warned.

In recent weeks, many residents targeted by these operations have deplored the lack of notice and rehousing proposals.

These “evictions” are not new, but this time they are massive and have been the subject of heated controversy.